Laser apparatus

Abstract

Changing non-mechanically a direction of irradiating a laser. The laser apparatus includes an optical device and a laser irradiation device. The optical device has two reflection mirrors facing each other, and a waveguide between the two reflection mirrors. The laser irradiation device irradiates the optical device with laser. The optical device is configured so that at least a portion of the laser travels on the waveguide by being reflected by the two reflection mirrors in order. The optical device has an output surface that emits a portion of the laser. The laser irradiation device has a plurality of irradiation parts including a first irradiation part that irradiates a first laser and a second irradiation part that irradiates a second laser. When viewed from a normal direction of the output surface, a traveling direction of the first laser is not parallel to a traveling direction of the second laser.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A laser apparatus comprising:
 an optical device having a first reflection mirror and a second reflection mirror arranged to face each other and one waveguide formed between the first reflection minor and the second reflection mirror; and 
 a laser irradiation device configured to irradiate the optical device with laser, 
 wherein the optical device is configured so that at least a portion of the laser travels on the waveguide by being reflected by the first reflection minor and the second reflection minor in order, 
 wherein the optical device comprises an output surface configured to emit a portion of the laser, 
 wherein the first reflection mirror transmits a portion of the laser and reflects another portion of the laser, 
 wherein the output surface is formed on a surface of the first reflection mirror, 
 wherein the laser irradiation device comprises a plurality of irradiation parts including a first irradiation part configured to irradiate a first laser and a second irradiation part configured to irradiate a second laser, 
 wherein an irradiation direction in which the first irradiation part irradiates the first laser to the waveguide of the optical device is not parallel to an irradiation direction in which the second irradiation part irradiates the second laser to the waveguide of the optical device when viewed from a normal direction of the output surface, and 
 wherein a traveling direction of the first laser is not parallel to a traveling direction of the second laser in the waveguide when viewed from the normal direction of the output surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The laser apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an optical path of the first laser intersects an optical path of the second laser in the waveguide when viewed from the normal direction of the output surface. 
 
     
     
       3. The laser apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the laser irradiation device comprises:
 a laser oscillator configured to generate seed light; and 
 an optical switch configured to receive the seed light and selectively output the seed light to an irradiation part among the plurality of irradiation parts that irradiates the optical device with the seed light as the laser. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The laser apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the laser irradiation device further comprises:
 a plurality of laser oscillators configured to generate seed light; and 
 a controller configured to select the laser to irradiate the optical device with by selecting a laser oscillator that generates the seed light from the plurality of laser oscillators. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The laser apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the optical device further comprises an active layer between the first reflection mirror and the second reflection mirror, the active layer configured to amplify the laser. 
 
     
     
       6. The laser apparatus according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the optical device further comprises an electrode configured to excite the active layer, and 
 wherein the output surface is divided to a plurality of output surfaces by the electrode. 
 
     
     
       7. The laser apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the optical device further comprises an input surface configured to be irradiated with the laser, and 
 wherein the input surface is a plane parallel to the output surface. 
 
     
     
       8. The laser apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an angle in that the first laser is refracted is different from an angle in that the second laser is refracted, in an input surface of the optical device when viewed from the normal direction of the output surface.